Presidents' Day Closures

Town offices and the Community Center will be closed on Monday, February 19th in observance of the Presidents' Day holiday. The Transfer Station will be open for normal operating hours.

Additional Select Board Meeting Scheduled for Next Week

The Select Board will hold two meetings next week, on Tuesday, February 20^th beginning at 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, February 21^st beginning at 5:30 p.m. to act upon items previously scheduled on the Board’s February 13^th meeting and slated to be considered at its February 20^th meeting. The meetings will both be hybrid meetings with in-person (large meeting room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road) and remote participation available.

Due to interruptions of internet and power services caused by the winter storm on February 13^th, the Select Board convened remotely at 5:30 p.m. for the sole purpose of opening and continuing two public hearings that were advertised to be held that night. No other items were discussed.

The scheduling of the additional meeting next week will keep the Board on track with budget and Annual Town Meeting article reviews in preparation of the Annual Town Meeting warrant for printing in late March.

Green pick up truck with sand in the bed and a yellow plow on it plowing snow off a street

Winter Storm Response

Department of Public Works crew members began preparing for Tuesday’s winter storm at 7:30 a.m. by installing plows on all trucks, loading trucks with salt, and gathering all equipment needed to salt all Town building walkways and entrances.

The sanding/salting crew of 8 drivers began to pre-treat the roads at 12:30 p.m. The snow began to intensify and accumulate on the roads at a fast rate. The sanding/salting crew was called back to the garage at 1:00 p.m. to prepare for plow operations.

At 1:00 p.m. all plow drivers were sent out to begin plowing. There were 23 plow drivers on the road for this storm and covered over 110 miles of roadways. The sub-contracted shoveling crew of two began clearing Town building walkways and entrances around 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday morning.

With the makeup of the snow being heavy and wet, there were several downed tree limbs that Public Works crews were also called out to remove from roadways.

The plow crew was released at 10:00 p.m. after roads were cleared. The sanding/salting crew then went back out at that time to treat the roads and were finished by 11:30 p.m. At 10:30 p.m. crews began clearing 10 miles of sidewalks. All snow removal operations were completed by 1:30 a.m.

With this storm the Department of Public Works accounted for 247 staff hours, approximately 150 tons of salt, 3 jars of pasta sauce, 4lbs of ravioli, 8lbs of meatballs, 50 snack size bags of chips, 30 snack size cookie packets, and 12 pots of coffee.

The Police Department reported storm related calls included five reports of wires down, five reports of trees in the roadways, two motor vehicle crashes, four reports of power outages, four responses to locations for building alarms, and one courtesy transport.

Thank you to Team Chatham for keeping us safe through the storm!

Town Clerk's Office Closure

The Town Clerk's office will be closed from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Thursday, February 22nd for State Elections training in preparation for the March Presidential Primary on Tuesday, March 5th.

Chatham Fire Truck door with reflection of turnout gear

Citizens Fire Academy

The Fire Rescue Department is accepting applications to its Citizens Fire Academy. The Citizens Fire Academy is an 8-week program designed to provide participants with a basic understanding of fire, rescue, and emergency medical operations in The Chatham Fire Rescue Department. The Academy will help to enhance the participants’ knowledge of The Chatham Fire Rescue Department’s capabilities, day to day operations and activities. Participants will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience (voluntary). Applications are available at Chatham Fire Headquarters.

When: Wednesdays March 27th – May 15th from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm
Where: Chatham Fire Rescue Headquarters 135 Depot Rd
Deadline for application submission: March 15th

Sample Topics: Department Tour and History, personal protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus, fire apparatus and equipment, thermal imaging cameras, search and rescue, fire extinguishers, ambulance operations and equipment, CPR, first aid and basic medical treatment, bleeding control, tower ladder operations, special teams, dive, water and technical rescue, dispatch and communications.

Participants must be at least 21 years of age with no criminal history, able to commit to regular attendance, and pass a background check.

A white car driving through a flooded street with a salt marsh on one side and boats on the other

Low-Lying Road Alerts

A new subscriber list for Low Lying Road Alerts has been created in Notify Me!, the Town’s non-emergency notification system for those who own property in areas prone to coastal flooding. Those property and business owners are encouraged to subscribe to the list for email and/or text messages regarding weather events that may cause coastal flooding of vulnerable roads. Just click the link above, enter your email and/or cell phone number, and then click the envelope icon and/or cell phone icon next to Low Lying Road Alerts. While you are there, check out the other subscriber lists available.

Low-Lying Roads Project Public Meeting

The Town of Chatham and the Cape Cod Commission (Commission) will host a second workshop on the Low-Lying Roads Project virtually on Thursday, February 29th at 6 p.m.

The workshop will provide an opportunity to learn about and discuss possible solutions to address flooding for the Town’s priority road segments identified as Morris Island Road and Ridgevale Road. Alternatives will be discussed that include traditional, green and hybrid options for each road segment and associated cost estimates. Participants will be able to ask questions about the presented solutions and about the project in general.

For more information on the Project visit www.capecodcommission.org/our-work/low-lying-roads-chatham/ . To attend the virtual public meeting visit https://capecodcommission.org/llr/join and enter Passcode: join or participate by phone by calling (929) 205-6099 and entering Meeting ID: 935 5189 6265.

Fun Fact! - Chatham Seaside Links Golf Course

Chatham Seaside Links was a busy place in 2023. From April through November, 31,135 rounds of golf were played on the course. 19,975 of those rounds were by non-members playing 9 holes. The 2024 golfing season is fast approaching and applications for memberships are now available.

Rainbow Rally Dinner on March 21st at 5 p.m.

Ask the Town Manager

Do you have a question about Town government or are curious about how or why it works the way it does? Are you interested to know the status of a project?

Please email your question to Shanna Nealy and we will use this space to bring the answers to you.

Monomoy Regional School District News

Kindergarten Registration Open

Monomoy Regional School District is now offering online registration for incoming Kindergarten students at Chatham Elementary School and Harwich Elementary School. All children residing in Chatham or Harwich who reach the age of 5 before September 1, 2024, are eligible for enrollment in Monomoy’s Kindergarten program.

Registration for all children eligible to enter Kindergarten in the fall of 2024 can be submitted at www.monomoy.edu/kindergarten-registration. The necessary supporting documents can be uploaded at that link as well.

If you need assistance with the online registration process, please call (508) 430-7216 or stop by the main office at Harwich Elementary School or Chatham Elementary School any weekday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Empty Bowls, Full Hearts

Monomoy Regional High School is hosting Empty Bowls, Full Hearts, a fundraiser to benefit the Family Table Collaborative of Cape Cod on Thursday March 7th in the Monomoy Regional High School Cafeteria, 75 Oak Street, Harwich. There will be two seatings at 5 & 6 p.m.

Enjoy a delicious homemade soup dinner served in a ceramic bowl made by Monomoy Regional High School students, on placemeat made by Harwich and Chatham Elementary School students. Pain D'Avignon bread, cookies from Pelham on the Rise, and coffee from Dunkin' will accompany the soup. While you eat you'll enjoy concerts by the Middle School and High School choirs. There will also be a silent auction of goods from local businesses.

Ticket prices are $15 for Ceramic Bowl and Soup Meal; $10 for Soup Meal only; $25 Soup Meal only for a family; $5 for Soup Meal only ages 5-12; and $10 for Ceramic Soup Bowl only. Purchase your ticket for the 5 p.m. seating or the 6 p.m. seating today.

Outline of a house in green with a green two-leafed plant within it

Host Families Wanted

Interested in housing a student who is doing real, impactful work to support sustainable and affordable housing on Cape Cod? The Massachusetts Housing and Climate Innovation Center is looking for residents to host Housing and Climate All-Stars for 8 weeks this summer while they undertake projects to improve climate resilience, environmental sustainability and affordability in our Cape Cod communities.

Starting in mid-June and running to mid-August, MassHCIC’s All-Stars program takes talented graduate and undergraduate students and provides them with the funding, contacts and knowledge necessary to develop a project of their own design while working with local government to further our common housing goals. Host families will receive a stipend of $150/week to offset costs. Apply to be a host family today!

Cape Cod Shakespeare Festival Auditions

The 2024 season of the Cape Cod Shakespeare Festival in Chatham will feature Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest.

Auditions will be held at the Chatham Drama Guild, 134 Crowell Road, on Sunday March 17th at 2 p.m. and Monday, March 18th at 7 p.m. Those auditioning should prepare a 60 second cutting from one or both of these plays and bring a resume and photo. Rehearsals will begin July 7th and performances will be held July 22nd to August 1st.

To learn more, visit the Festival's website.

A laptop, calculator and tax forms on a table

Prior Year Tax Bill Requests

Are you getting ready to file your taxes? Do you need copies of your prior year tax/utilities bills?

The Treasurer/Collector's Office has added a new feature to its webpage to make that request online quickly and easily and at a time that's convenient for you.

Just indicate the tax year you are requesting and select Real Estate/Personal Property Taxes, Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes, and/or Water Bills. Requests will take up to 10 days to process and the documents will be emailed to you.

Next Select Board Meeting - February 20, 2024 @ 5:30 p.m.

All are welcome to attend and participate in our open and public meetings. The agenda for each meeting is posted 48 business hours prior to the scheduled meeting time and can be accessed through the Select Board’s webpage.

Attend in-person at the Town Office Annex, Large Meeting Room. Join the meeting on-line or participate by phone by dialing 1-508-945-4410 and entering Conference ID 203 386 491#.

I. Minutes

A. February 6, 2024

B. February 13, 2024

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Requests

III. Public Hearings

A. Consider Complaints of a Nuisance Dog at 48 Sylvan Way, South Chatham and Consideration of Fine Increase (No Public Hearing Required for Fine Increase) – Continued from 2/13/2024

B. Tree Warden; Removal of Three Shade Trees (Sycamore Maples) in Town Right of Way Along Old Harbor Road Adjacent to 19 Old Wharf Road – Continued from 2/13/2024

C. Consider Application for Change of Premise to Annual All Alcoholic Beverages Hotel/Innkeeper License; TPG Chatham Beverage LLC d/b/a Chatham Wayside Inn, 512 Main Street

D. Consider Application for New Seasonal Wine & Malt Beverages Only License; OP ADAD LLC d/b/a Elwood’s Raw Bars, 309 Orleans Road

E. Consider Application for Change of Class from Seasonal to Annual All Alcoholic Beverages License; TPJ Restaurant Group d/b/a Pates Restaurant, 1260 Main Street

IV. Public Comments on Business Agenda

V. Business Agenda

A. FY2025 Budget Review/2024 Annual Town Meeting Article Review – Vote

1. Finance Committee (Preliminary) Recommendations on the FY2025 Operating and Capital Budgets

2. Town Department Operating and Capital Budget Presentations – Economic Development - Chamber of Commerce

B. Consider Support of an Adult Day Care Center at the First United Methodist Church Chatham (Select Board Members D. Nicastro and M. Schell/B. Segall)

C. 1533 Main Street (“Buckley Property”) – Affordable/Attainable Housing Discussion of the Select Board’s Jurisdiction and Plans for Proposed Development of the Property (Select Board Member D. Nicastro/F. Messina/S. Buckley) and Report from the Affordable Housing Trust Board Members Concerning Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for Proposed Development of the Property at 1533 Main Street and the Property at Meetinghouse Road (Select Board Vice Chair M. Schell) – Public Comment Will Be Accepted

D. Approve and Sign the Warrant for the 2024 Presidential Primary

E. Reappointments

1. Registrar

2. Constable

F. Release of Executive Session Minutes – Sciaba Construction Fish Pier Contract Claims

Additional Select Board Meeting - February 21, 2024 @ 5:30 p.m

All are welcome to attend and participate in our open and public meetings. The agenda for each meeting is posted 48 business hours prior to the scheduled meeting time and can be accessed through the Select Board’s webpage.

Attend in-person at the Town Office Annex, Large Meeting Room. Join the meeting on-line or participate by phone by dialing 1-508-945-4410 and entering Conference ID 203 386 491#.

I. Public Announcements and Agenda Requests

II. Public Comments on Business Agenda

III. Business Agenda

A. FY2025 Budget Review/2024 Annual Town Meeting Articles Review – Vote Town Department – Natural Resources, Community Development, Information Technologies (IT) Division, General Government Divisions, Other/Undesignated, Community Services

B. Updates to Town Manager’s Budget Recommendations (if needed)

C. Draft Warrant Articles:

1. Waterfront Bond Article Reauthorization

2. Dredging

3. Prior Year Bills (Free Cash)

4. Consolidated Revolving Funds – Authorization (Includes WUF)

5. Airport Revolving Fund Authorization – MGL Ch. 44, section 53E1/2

6. Stabilization Appropriation per Policies (Transfer from Overlay Surplus)

7. Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Funding (Tax Levy)

8. Airport Capital Articles

a. Chatham Municipal Airport Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations

b. Chatham Municipal Airport Capital Improvement Projects

IV. Executive Session – MGL Ch. 30A, Section 21a(3) To Discuss Strategy with Respect to Collective Bargaining (Chatham Permanent Fire Fighters International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2712 and Chatham Sergeants and Police Officers – MCOP Local 294) if an Open Meeting May Have a Detrimental Effect on the Bargaining or Litigating Position of the Select Board and the Chair so Declares with no return to Open Session.

The Mainsheet

The name of our e-newsletter was selected from submissions by our community.
In nautical terms a mainsheet is the line connected to the boom which allows a sailor to control the speed of a boat. We think that is fitting for an e-newsletter that can be used to quickly send out important information to our community or at a more leisurely rate for less pressing matters. It reflects Chatham’s maritime history, is reminiscent of the front page of a newspaper, and it is a fun play on Main Street, where you go to be part of all that is happening in Town!

Subscribe to The Mainsheet

Subscribe today to have the latest issue of The Mainsheet delivered directly to your inbox each week! Sign-up through Notify Me! by entering your email address and clicking on the envelope icon next to the "Government" subscription list.

Town of Chatham website www.chatham-ma.gov